A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities is about poverty in London and Paris and the book with perhaps the most famous opening and closing lines in English literature: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…’ and, at closing, ‘It is a far, far, better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.’
Whilst it wasn’t chosen as one of the best of Charles Dickens’s books, it is his book that has been most recommended by experts at Five Books.
Recommendations from our site
“A classic love story, about all the things those awful frogs were doing, a schoolboy story really. It should have been a children’s story.” Read more...
Jeffrey Archer, Novelist
“Every decision I make, I try to evaluate if it will help improve the quality of life of every Angeleno. But Dickens really dissects both the aristocrats and the revolutionaries, to show that change is never easy. As progressives, we value government’s role and power to improve our cities and communities, but at the same time we must never forget that the ends never justify the means. And that the majority cannot deprive the minority of their inalienable rights that come with a democracy.” Read more...
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Antonio Villaraigosa, Politician
“I was looking at this thinking, well, this reign of terror ended in France, but in Iraq it is still going on.” Read more...
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May Witwit, Literary Scholar
“It’s about the lives of poor people and the kind of life they lead in poverty.” Read more...
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Muhammad Yunus, Economist
